DIESEL CETANE RATINGS

wcjeep wrote:
Unless you are going to Alaska or Canada I wouldn't worry about cetane,#1 or #2 diesel. Find station with high volume sales and clean filters.

I may be reading wcjeep's post wrong but, here in MN you had better be running a #1 blended fuel in the winter or your going to Jell up. (That might be spelled Gell up, I'm not sure.)

I would be very careful adding anything to the fuel on one of these newer computer controlled engines. You could cause a check engine light to come on. If you have questions talk to the diesel mechanic at your dealer. (Even putting the wrong oil in them can cause major issues.)

After reading a lot of info on the low sulfer diesel I started adding one ounce per gallon of TW-3 two stroke oil at each fill up. It is easier on injectors and quiets the engine and produces no ash. I buy mine at Walmart in gallon containers. I'm very happy with it. Got this info off the Dodge Cummins site and read reports on the use of it.

Here in Texas we're forced to buy mostly Bio-Diesel 10% to 20% at the pumps, and yes I do run an additive and yes it does give me better fuel economy and a quieter running engine. In fact it can be a very noticeable difference from station to station.

moparmaga2 wrote:
I don't think that is does any good to worry about the Cetane ratings.

Why?

I have never been to a diesel pump that states its Cetane rating on the pump like a gas pump states its octane.

Usually, the pumps are only labeled ON-Highway Diesel.

Unless you are going to carry a chemistry kit with you in your RV, what good would it do to worry?

Many states require it be posted on the pump, just like they require that octane be posted on the gas pumps. All depends on the state's law.

Unless you are going to Alaska or Canada I wouldn't worry about cetane,#1 or #2 diesel. Find station with high volume sales and clean filters.

moparmaga2 wrote:
I don't think that is does any good to worry about the Cetane ratings.

Why?

I have never been to a diesel pump that states its Cetane rating on the pump like a gas pump states its octane.

Usually, the pumps are only labeled ON-Highway Diesel.

Unless you are going to carry a chemistry kit with you in your RV, what good would it do to worry?

Yeah, it isn't like there is a lot of choice, other than buying chemical junk to pour in the fuel tank.
If you get tempted to buy any of that stuff, do yourself and your engine a favor and look up the MSDS on it so you can see exactly what you are feeding your very expensive engine. It is quite likely you will find it is naphtha, light machine oil, and benzene, with traces (less than 5% by volume) of other stuff.

I have a 6.7 Ford diesel that is rather quiet. A few times I got fuel that caused a much higher noise level. The way these engines work is that they inject a small amount of fuel at first and the main charge later. If the cetane is so low that the small charge doesn't ignite, and get the fire started, then the main charge ignites causing the noise that the old diesels made. When I add cetane improver the noise subsides. Cetane is the opposite of octane, the higher number will ignite more readily.

I don't think that is does any good to worry about the Cetane ratings.

Why?

I have never been to a diesel pump that states its Cetane rating on the pump like a gas pump states its octane.

Usually, the pumps are only labeled ON-Highway Diesel.

Unless you are going to carry a chemistry kit with you in your RV, what good would it do to worry?

Cetane is to diesels what octane is to gasoline. The higher the cetane the more power until you reach about 48 then levels off. Cetane is related to the paraffin level of the fuel, that's why if the fuel has been cut with kero for cold weather the cetane goes down and requires a booster. The fed requires all ON ROAD diesel to be a minimum of 40. You should not need higher to run well.